Getting an "Invalid Chip ID" error when you try to update your SMOK XCube 2 160W Mod?

I"ve had a few customers contact us on how to update their SMOK X Cube 2 160W Mod. The directions from SMOK are not exactly clear and do not explain how to get past the "Invalid Chip ID" error which tends to happen for some mods when following SMOK"s directions. Let me explain how to update in the best steps that I have found over the past few months while working with our customers who own this awesome mod and wished to update it.


Here are the steps to updating your SMOK XCube 2 160W Mod from firmware version 1.092 to 1.093, which brings the mod from 160W to 180W as well as fixes some small bugs.

You"ll need a Windows PC (Macs do not work for the upgrade process at this time) and a micro USB cable. The one that came with your X Cube 2 will work, though any that you have lying around will work as well.

1. Download the upgrade tool from this page: http://www.smoktech.com/hotnews/products/x-cube-two-firmware-upgrade-guide (or you can get the upgrade toll from here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5PRxt9jDcI2STFfcUw2NldzZTA/view?usp=sharing)
2. Un-archive/unzip it (this is important; don"t just run the tool from inside the zip file, you"ll end up with some error about an APROM file not being present)
3. Launch the .exe file to bring up the installer.
4. Ignore the instructions it shows you, except for step 1, which tells you to click the button to check for a new firmware version. Do that. It should find and download 1.093.
5. Leave the batteries in your X Cube and leave it turned on. Go into the settings menu and find the "Download" option. Hold your fire button for a second to go in there.
6. Use the top buttons to change "Exit" to "Enter" and hold the fire button again to select. It"ll say something about step 2 on the LED screen.
7. Plug the device into the USB cable.
8. Hit "Connect" on the installer app. For some people, doing this step while holding down the firing button works for them, others state that not holding it down works. I would suggest to try holding down the firing button and if that doesn"t work, try this step again while not holding the firing button.
9. Hit the "Do update" (or whatever it says) button on the app. When the progress bar is all green and it says "3/3" next to it, you"re done.
10. Hit "Disconnect"
11. You can unplug the device and exit the installer app now, your device is updated.

If you get an error about "No secret key" you can ignore it, just pop the batteries out of your device and pop them back in. When you turn it on that error will be gone (along with all your settings, so you"ll have to set it back up) and you"ll see that it announces it"s running firmware version 1.093 now. 

If you are getting the "Invalid Chip ID" error, make sure that the file-config.ini file is in the folder with the Upgrade software. If it is not, redownload the upgrade package and try the steps again. 

If you are trying to update the X Cube 2, or the Mini, and are getting "No File" when you click on Update, make sure that the zip was fully extracted to your computer and that you accessing the executable from the folder that is on your computer and not through the zip.

Getting an "Invalid Chip ID" error when you try to update your SMOK XCube 2 160W Mod?